Many of the Samaritans from the town of Sychar believed in Jesus. They believed because of the woman's witness. She said, "He told me everything I've ever done."
John 4:39
The woman at the well is one of my favorite stories in scripture. This story in John 4 tells of Jesus meeting a woman - with a past - as he was making his way back to Galilee.
I love this story because it has two distinct parts which give us an image of how our faith should evolve as Christians.
First - Jesus meets this woman one-on-one. Each of us has a personal relationship with Jesus. Salvation is dependent upon you and I personally knowing Jesus. I have heard many people say, "My grandma was a wonderful Christian." or "My friends go to church." Here's the deal: Heaven isn't a cool club or sorority you can get into because you know one of the cool members - rather it is dependent on one relationship - yours with Jesus. This first meeting between Jesus and the Samaritan woman is poignant because it is just the two of them. They can be real and honest because no one is there to pass judgement or interfere. When we first truly meet Jesus it is a one-on-one personal relationship which depends solely on us being open to Jesus's invitation:
"Jesus answered, "All who drink this water will be thirsty again. But anyone who drinks the water I give him will never be thirsty. In fact, the water I give him will become a spring of water in him. It will flow up into eternal life."
John 4:13-14
Second - The woman shares her love for Jesus with others. The woman at the well is so excited by the fact that Jesus knows exactly who she is and still chooses to talk with her and share with her how she can accept salvation, she is compelled to tell everyone in her town - to tell anyone who will listen. When we truly experience an encounter with Jesus it is life changing and we can't help but want others to have a similar experience. Sharing our love for Jesus is an authentic and yet humbling experience for each of us. Jesus is depending on that excitement and enthusiasm to spill out of you onto those around you so that they might be open to their own personal, one-on-one experience with Jesus. Once you are a believer you have the tremendous honor of helping others realize that Jesus is sitting at the well waiting for them as well.
Even though we may not have gone down the path of the woman at the well, each of us has something in our lives which might make us believe we are not worthy to be with Jesus. But the cool thing, the amazingly cool thing, about this story is that Jesus is waiting for the woman at the well. He is already there when she arrives, just as he is waiting for us to arrive at our own "wells".
There is nothing in your life which makes you unworthy of meeting Jesus at the well. Nothing.
He is waiting for you to come to him - and he is patient.
But once you meet him, embrace the wonderful gift of being able to run back to your friends and family to share with them the impact Jesus has made on your lives - - give them the gift of coming to their own wells to meet Jesus.
He is waiting for them too.
Scripture
Quote of the Day
Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.
–Blaise Pascal
Question of the Day
Have you made time to meet Jesus at the well today?
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